MONTREAL - As Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard delivered his strongest attack yet against sovereignty Tuesday, Pauline Marois talked up a border-less Quebec country that would open its arms to tourists from Canada.

Day 7 of Quebec's election campaign saw battle lines clearly drawn, with independence again emerging as the overarching issue.

Marois's attempted focus on the economy was sideswiped by a question about whether a sovereign Quebec would be more attractive as a tourism destination.

"It won't change our landscapes, that's for sure," the Parti Quebecois leader said with a laugh at a campaign stop near Lac-Megantic.

"We'll still be able to go see the Rockies out West and go to Prince Edward Island and they'll be able to come here. There won't be any borders or tolls."

The border comments followed Marois to another campaign stop, prompting her to agree with a reporter's assertion that an independent Quebec would not be unlike the European Union, where there is free movement of citizens.

"That's what it means, but that's not to say there wouldn't be a (Quebec) citizenship and, as such, a passport," Marois said.

Couillard, meanwhile, launched his strongest anti-sovereigntist message yet, with the federalist leader accusing the PQ of hurting Quebec with its constant musings about referendums and separation.

"The choice is clear," he said. "Do you want a government that is going to focus on a referendum and the separation of Quebec or do you want a government that is going to concentrate on the economy, jobs, health care and education?"

Couillard suggested his political foes should tone down the rhetoric, for the sake of the province.

"Every time they hint at a referendum, Quebec is weakened," he said, asserting that a separate Quebec would be severely crippled economically and that Canada would feel the ripple effect.

"Of course the economy will be in serious trouble. Madame Marois herself said a few years ago that we would be facing at least five years of disturbances. I think she's being very conservative in what she's planning for Quebec."

The impact on the province would be harsh, Couillard added.

"It will severely, severely hurt Quebec for many, many, many years, economically," he said.

But Couillard added the issue goes beyond finances as he once again made no bones about displaying his pro-Canada beliefs.

"We founded this country with our fellow Canadians. Why should we give away part of our heritage, of our history? The citizenship is also part of our identity and history, contrary to what the PQ repeats always — that we need a different citizenship.

"The Canadian citizenship is part of Quebec's identity. We took part in this foundation of this country. We are an essential part of what makes Canada such a great place to live in the world."

Quebec independence would destroy the rest of Canada because the province is an "essential part" of the country and its "distinct character" is part of what makes Canada so interesting.

Couillard also harked back to the failed 1990 Meech Lake constitutional agreement, which would have recognized Quebec as a distinct society.

Couillard said he believes Canadians in other provinces realize Meech was a "missed opportunity."

"It should have (been approved by everyone). But you don't reject a country because it wasn't. What's that all about?"

In other news Tuesday, 12 well-known sovereigntists signed an open letter supporting Pierre Karl Peladeau, the media mogul whose decision to run for the PQ has turned the campaign on its head.

Peladeau has been urged in many quarters to sell his shares in the Quebecor media empire to erase any concerns about conflict of interest.

The signatories, who include former premiers Bernard Landry and Jacques Parizeau and ex-Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe, say forcing Peladeau to sell his interests in a company founded by his family "seems excessive."

They say such a scenario could see outsiders scoop up Quebecor, described in the letter as a "jewel of our cultural industry."

— With files from Canadian Press reporters Patrice Bergeron in Trois-Rivieres, Alexandre Robillard in Lac-Megantic and Melanie Marquis in Quebec City.

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FLASHBACK: The 1995 Quebec Referendum

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In this Monday, Oct. 30, 1995 file picture, police watch a fire burn underneath a "Oui" pro-separatist sign after the federalists won the Quebec referendum. In Canada's May 2, 2011 federal election, voters dealt Quebec's separatists their worst humiliation in modern memory and set off a debate about whether the mostly French-speaking province even needs a separatist movement in this globalized age. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Tom Hanson)

In this Friday, Oct. 27, 1995 file picture, a large Canadian flag is passed through a crowd in as thousands streamed into Montreal from all over Canada to join Quebecers rallying for national unity three days before a referendum that could propel Quebec toward secession. In Canada's May 2, 2011 federal election, voters dealt Quebec's separatists their worst humiliation in modern memory and set off a debate about whether the mostly French-speaking province even needs a separatist movement in this globalized age. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

MONTREAL, OCT. 30--SAYING NO--Daniel Johnson Quebec Liberal Leader and leader of the No campaign in the Quebec referendum delivers his victory speech after the No side won by a slim margin in Montreal, Monday.(CP {PHOTO)1995(stf-Fred Chartrand)fxc

MONTREAL, Oct. 30--Members of the Yes and No camps clash on the streets of Montreal after the No victory in the Quebec referendum Monday night. (CP PHOTO) 1995 (stf-Tom Hanson)ROY

Dejected Yes supporters stand silently at their campaign headquarters in Montreal Monday night, Oct. 30, 2005 as they go down to a narrow defeat in the province's referendum vote. Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the Quebec sovereignty referendum vote that was held on Oct. 30, 1995. (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Paul Chiasson)

MONTREAL, Oct. 30-- Bloc Quebecois leader Lucien Bouchard wipes his brow as he is joined on stage with his wife Audrey Best after the defeat of the Yes side in the Quebec referendum in Montreal Monday night. (CP PHOTO) 1995 (stf-Paul Chiasson)ROY

MONTREAL, Oct. 30--No side supporters wave Quebec and Canadiasn flags as they take part in a caravan through the streets of Montreal Monday as the province votes on a referendum on sovereignty. (CP PHOTO) 1995 (stf-Tom Hanson)ROY

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien casts his ballot, Oct. 30, 1995, in Ste-Flore, a Shawinigan suburb, to vote in the referendum on the sovereignty of Quebec. (CP PHOTO/Jacques Boissinot)

MONTREAL, Oct. 30--NO VICTORY--No supporters respond to poll results, in Montreal Monday, as the pro-Canada camp move above 50 percent of the popular vote on their way to a slim victory in the Quebec referendum. (CP PHOTO) 1995 (stf-Jacques Bossinot) rpz

A voter gets set to cast his ballot in Montreal Sunday Oct. 22, 1995 as advance polls open across Quebec for people who will be unable to vote in the sovereignty referendum Oct. 30. (CP PHOTO/Ryan Remiorz)

Some of the 4000 Yes supporters display their conviction Sunday Oct. 22, 1995, at a Yes rally in Quebec City where the three leaders, Mario Dumont, Jacques Parizeau and Lucien Bouchard spoke. The referendum vote will be held Oct. 30, 1995. (CP PHOTO/Jacques Boissinot)

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says he has had his fair share of marijuana.
"Oh, yeah. I've smoked a lot of it."

The federal Liberal leader opened up to HuffPost about his experience with marijuana in August.
"Sometimes, I guess, I have gotten a buzz, but other times no. I’m not really crazy about it.”

The Opposition leader's office told HuffPost this summer that Mulcair has smoked in the past but not since he was elected to office. Mulcair was elected to the National Assembly of Quebec in 1994.

Said the Tory finance minister:
"Yeah, in my teenage years... a couple of times, I have to admit: I didn’t like it."

The Liberal MP and Canada's first astronaut said he tried marijuana as a student in the 1970s in England.
"It's not my thing. I stopped because it wasn't doing anything for me."

The premier of Ontario said she smoked pot decades ago.
"I have smoked marijuana but not for the last 35 years."

Said the former premier of Nova Scotia:
"Like every other person I knew back in the '70s when I went to university, some of whom are actually in this room, I would have tried it, the same as other people at that time."

Said the premier of British Columbia:
"I graduated from Burnaby South Senior Secondary in 1983 and there was a lot of that going on when I was in high school and I didn't avoid it all together."

The leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario admitted he's puffed in the past.
"I was a normal kid, I had a normal upbringing, a normal life in university. I experimented from time to time with marijuana. It’s a long time ago in the past and in the grand scheme of things."

The former prime minister of Canada told CTV News:
"The answer is: I never smoked. I never smoked anything, but there was an earlier time, years ago, when (my wife) made some brownies and they did have a strange taste."

The former prime minister admitted while running for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives that she tried weed.
"And I inhaled the smoke."

Said the former NDP leader:
"Yes, and some might say I never exhaled."

The former premier of Ontario said he experimented in his teens, but only twice.

The premier of Saskatchewan said he was an "infrequent" user back in university.
"It didn't really do anything for me, luckily, because for some, it does lead to other things."